Apparatus for folding sheet material



Jan. 30, 1945. L. BRANDT 7 2,368,445

APPARATUS FOR FOLDING SHEET MATERIAL Filed March 5, 1945 INVENTOR. {nu/4v BRANDT ATTORNEY invention, the oil Patented Jan. 30, 1945 OFFICE APPARATUS FOR FOLDING SHEET MATERIAL Louis Brandt, New York, N. Y., assignor to Joseph Brandt Application March 5,

' 2 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for folding lengths of sheet material.

While the present invention may be applied generally in the. art of folding a web or strip of sheet material longitudinally upon itself to produce a multi ply web or strip, the invention is particularly useful inthe production of narrow bands for making hat or other braids or for weaving hat bodies, etc.

The flexible band made in accordance with the present invention comprises a folded strip of film like material, such, for example, as Cellophane or other synthetic cellulosic material, and preferably an inner core strip or member of the same or different material, the folded strip being adhesively secured to the core strip and the folded portions of the folded: strip being adhesively secured to each other in overlapped relation at one side of the band.

Bands of this construction are produced by passing the inner and outer strips through a sta- & Bro. Inc., New York, NY.

1943, Serial No. 473,074

tionary folder which operates to fold the outer strip about the inner strip. By reason of the movement of the strip through the folder, the latter is subjected to considerable wear, especially when the strip material of the outer strip is formed of Cellophane or similar material, with the result thatthe folder must be replaced at comparatively frequent intervals. One of the objects of the present invention, therefore, is to eliminate or to substantially reduce the impairment of the folder. due to the wearing action thereon by the strip material as it passes therethrough in the folding of said material. More specifically, pursuantto this object of the invention, a lubricant, preferably any suitable oil; is applied to thesheet material which is folded whereby to prevent wear of the folder and to ease the movement of the sheet material through the folder.

When the folded strip is formed of Cellophane or the like, it is necessary to treat the same, usually with an oil, for the purpose of conditioningthe folded Strip for manipulation by various elements of the braiding or knitting machine in producing from aplurality of strands of the folded material a braided or knitted fabric. Heretofore, the oil was applied, in a separate operation, to the material after the same was formed into the folded bands.

is applied to they band-forming material and more particularly to the outer strip or web, as part of the folding operation, during the travel of the sheet material to the folder and prior to the passage thereof through the In accordance with the present folder, thus eliminating the separate oiling operation heretofore practised, and at the same time accomplishing the above mentioned object of the invention, namely, the elimination or decrease of the wearing action of the webon the folder during its passage therethrough. This constitutes another object of the present invention.

A further object of this invention is to provide for the application of an adhesive and of a lubricant to'the opposite surfaces, respectively, of the strip, which is folded in the folder, the adhesive and the lubricant being pplied to said strip while the latter travels to the folder.

The above and other objects, features and ad vantages of the invention will best be understood from the followingdescription, reference being had to the accompanying illustrative drawing. 3

In the drawing:

Fig, 1 is a side View in elevation, and partly in section, of the apparatus embodying the present invention; v 1

Fig. 2 is a-plan view' of the apparatus on the line 2- 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view partly in elevation and partly.

in section, on a larger scale, of part of the apparatus; Fig. 4 is a plan'view, partly in section, on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; 1 Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, on a larger scale;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-13 of Fig. 3; Y

Fig, 7 is a substantially enlarged cross sectional view of the folded i 3; Y

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an attachment for the folder, removed therefrom.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, in practising the method of the present invention, the strip 10 of Cellophane or other-sheet material is caused to travel from the supply spool S through material on the line '!'i of the folder F and in the course 'of the travel of said strip to said folder, "a lubricant, and more I particularly any suitableoil, isapplied to one surface of said strip-and an adhesive, preferably Y a water soluble adhesive, is applied to the oppoj-' site surface of'saidstrip. The strip which is thus treated with the adhesive and with the lubricant is, as illustrated herein, folded-around an inner strip or core l2, for producing the flexible band material IDA of the construction illustrated in cross section in Fig. 7. Strip H can be formed'of Cellophane or othersheet. material or can be a textile thread. As here shown, the outer strip I0 is folded longitudinally upon itself around the latter travels to the folder, will now be more particularly described. As here shown, the supply spools S and S--l for the strips l0 and, I2 are mounted for rotation on the spindles l8 and120, respectively. Fixed guides 22 and 24 are provided for directing the stripsjfl and lZ, respectively, from the spools to theadhesive applying means 26. Said adhesive applyingmeans comprises, as here shown, a roller 28 which dips in adhesive receptacle 30 and picks up adhesive therefrom for application to strips I0- and 12 which, in their travel to the folder, are pressed against the surface ofroller 28. A'blade. 32 is resiliently held against roller 28 by a spring 34 w for removing excess adhesive from roller 28.

The means for applying the lubricant to the strip l0 comprises a wick 36 which dips into the lubricant container 38. The strip 10 in passing from the adhesive applying roller 28 to the lubricant applying wick 36, is twisted to present the opposite surface of strip ID to the oil applying device for application to said opposite surface of the lubricant. For this purpose, strip I0 is engaged overarm and under arm 42 which are afllxed to the supporting plate 44. It will be observed by reference'to Fig. 5 thatthe surface of l I oiling wick which is engaged by strip I0 is inclined in a direction transverselyof the longitudinal line of movement of the strip so that only a partial twist, less than 180, of said strip between the roller 28 and wick 36 is required to present said opposite surface of strip l2 to the oiling wick. The twisting of strip l0 through the rest of the 180 required to position theadhesive coated surface thereof next to the strip i2 is completed while strip in passes from wick 35 to arm 42.. Arm 42 is provided with a slot 46 through which the strip l2 passes on its way to the. folder F. From the folder F, the folded band 10A passes over thefdngers 48 of the guide members 50 which are secured to plate 44 and then over the guide roller 52 to the driven-takeup roller 54. It will be understood that the driven take-up roller 54 on'which the band 10A is wound, constitutes means for moving the strips HI and I2 from their supplyspools S and S-l, respectively, through the apparatus, for the application of the; adhesive andlubricant to the opposite sides, respectively, of strip I0 and for effecting the folding of strip in about strip I2 the stationaryfolder F. It will be understood that any suitable-means may be provided for tensioning strips; HI and 12 in opposition to the pull of take-up roller or spool .54; and thatsuch take-up meansmay be albraki-ng device applied .to spools S and S--l-to prevent free rotation thereof onztheir companion spindles I8 and 20, respectively; As tensioni-ngmeans inf-olding apparatus are well known, the; illustration or furtheir description thereof:is believed to be unnecessary.

The folder F can be of any suitable construction. vAs here shown, said folder i supported by the bracket 55 fixed to plate 44 and comprises a tapered tubular portion 58 having an outlet opening 58 through which the folded material passes while the latter is drawn through the folder by the take-up roller 54. The inlet end 60 of folder F is channel-shaped, being open at the top. A cross strap 62 is fixed to the opposite sides 84 of the open top channel-shaped inlet part 60 of the folder near the end 68 of tubular member 56; A pressure member 10 is provided as an attachment for folder F to aid in holding strips I0 and 12 in position at the inlet end of the folder. which can be formed of sheet metal or any other suitable material, comprises a flat pointed part I2 (Figs 3 and 8) which extends into the tubular member 56 0f the folder. Upward and forward movement of part 12 in the folder is prevented by strap 62 whichlies over part 12 and engages the bent portion 14. Said pressure member is weighted by the parts 16 and 18.

In actual. practice, the above described. apparatus is one of a plurality of units which are provided for producing imultaneously a p r i y of bands IDA. Thus, as'illustrated'in Fig. 2, plate 44 has secured thereto an additional folder sup:- porting bracket 55, an arm 42 and guide members 50 of an adjacent unit. A shaft which drives the take-up spool 54 of the illustrated unit also has secured thereto a plurality of similar takesup rolls 54 for the other units of'the apparatus.

While I have described andillustrated the preferred embodiment of myinvention, including the preferred form of the apparatus and the preferred form of practising the method of this in; ventlon, it will be understood that various changes may be'made therein. Accordinglmi do not wish to be limited to the specific'appa ratus or precisely to the method described except to the extent which may be required by the scope of the, app nded claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters 'Patent is: 1

1. In folding apparatus comprising a stationary folder through which a web of sheet material is caused to travel for the folding of said web longitudinally upon itself, the combination with said folder of means for applying .an adhesive to one surface of said web, means for applying a lubricant to the opposite surface of said web, and means for twisting said web between said adhesive-applying-means and said lubricant-applying means for presenting said opposite surfaces of the web to said adhesive-applying means and to said lubricant-applying means, respectively, during the travel of said web to said folder.

2. In folding apparatus comprising a folder through which a web of sheet material is caused to travel for the folding of said web longitudinally upon itself, the combination with said folder of means for applying an adhesive toone surface of said web, means for applying a'lubricant to the opposite surface of said web, both of said means being disposed at one side of the-line of travel of said web to the folder in position toapplysaitl adhesive and said lubricant to said web, and

means for twisting said web between said acthesive applying means and said -lubricant applying means'for presenting said opposite surfaces of the web to said adhesive applying means-and to said lubricant applying means,--re,spectively, during the travel of said web to said folder.

"LOUIS BRANDT.

Said pressure member 

